Fiorentina appoint Paolo Vanoli as new coach after Stefano Pioli sacking

The Italian club confirmed Vanoli's arrival, with the 48-year-old signing a contract until the end of the 2025-26 campaign, plus an option for an additional year. He replaces Pioli after a brief interim spell by academy coach Daniele Galloppa.

Pioli, returning for a second stint at Fiorentina on July 12, after previous roles at AC Milan and Al-Nassr, faced intense scrutiny as the Viola failed to secure a single victory in their opening 10 league matches, earning just four points. The club acted decisively on November 4, relieving him of his duties just 115 days into the role.

In an official statement, Fiorentina expressed gratitude to Pioli and his staff for their "professionalism and dedication," while emphasizing the need for a fresh approach to arrest the slide. Galloppa, a former midfielder and current Under-19 coach at the club since 2022, stepped in as interim manager and guided Fiorentina to a hard-fought 0-0 draw away at Genoa on November 9, their first point since the international break. This result leaves the team with five points from 11 games, still rooted to 20th place in the standings.

Vanoli, who most recently led Torino to a mid-table finish last season before departing in the summer, brings experience from stints at Hellas Verona, Venezia, and as an assistant under Roberto Mancini with Italy's national team.

His immediate priority will be integrating quickly with a squad desperate to ignite their campaign, starting with a high-stakes home fixture against Juventus on November 22.

Juventus, sitting sixth in the table and trailing leaders Inter Milan and second-placed Roma, will provide a stern test for the newcomers. The managerial upheaval adds an element of uncertainty, but it could also spark a response from players eager to impress under Vanoli's possession-based system. Further challenges loom with away trips to Atalanta on November 30 and Sassuolo on December 6, as Fiorentina eye a push away from the relegation mire.

For the Viola, avoiding the drop is paramount, and Vanoli's track record of stabilizing teams in distress offers hope. As the club looks to rebuild momentum, supporters at the Stadio Artemio Franchi will be counting on the new era to deliver stability and, crucially, points in the weeks ahead.